Electromagnetic device



May 28, 1957 w. HoPPE ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE Filed Nov. 13. 1952 Yagi A'l Il United States Patent ELECTROMGNETIC DEVICE Walter Hoppe, Yverdon,Switzerland, assignor to El-Re-Ma S. A. per lo sfruttamento di brevetti,Lugano, Switzerland, a company of Switzerland Application November 13,1952, Serial No. 326,218

Claims priority, appiication Switzerland May 2S, 1952 S Claims. (Cl.317-189) The present invention relates to electromagnetic devices, andparticularly to electromagnetic devices comprising a relay.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide anelectromagnetic device which is adapted to totalize impulses.

It is another object of the present invention to provide anelectromagnetic device which can totalize impulses in calculatingmachines and telephonie installations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide anelectromagnetic device adapted to assume three positions.

It is still another object of the present invention t0 provide anelectromagnetic device which allows a considerable reduction of thenumber of elements to be used in installations of the kind described.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of an electromagnetic deviceaccording to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken along the line III-HI of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar cross section of a third embodiment of theinvention; and

Fig. 5 is a similar cross section of a fourth embodiment of theinvention.

Referring now to the drawings and first to Figs. 1 and 3 showing adevice comprising two relays, each of the two relays includes a core 1which traverses a main winding 2 forming part of the relay. The tworelays are arranged side by side so that the longitudinal axes of theirmain windings Z are located in the same plane. Each relay comprises twomovable armatures 3 and 4 which are attached, respectively, by means ofresilient members such as leaf springs 5 and 6 to pieces 7 and 8consisting of magnetic material so as to form part of the magneticcircuit of the relay. The pieces 7 and 8 are rigidly connected to, orform one piece with, parts 9 and 10, respectively, which consist ofmagnetic material and are separated from the core 1 by an electric andmagnetic insulation 11. In the rest position of the relays which isshown in the drawings, the movable armatures of each relay abut with oneend thereof against an insulating piece 12 which is preferably U-shaped.All the armatures 3 are disposed substantially parallel to one anotherand with their main parts in a plane substantially parallel to thatcontaining the axes of the main windings 2. The same applies to thearmatures 4. Each relay is designed in such a manner that if one of itsarmatures is attracted, a direct electrical contact is establishedbetween the core 1 of the relay, which is silvered,

Patented May 28, 1957 ice and the end of the armature which carries acontact piece 13 consisting of silver.

Each part 9 and 10 of each relay traverses an auxiliary biasing orpolarizing winding 14 or 15, respectively. The auxiliary windings 14 areconnected in series so that their polarizing elects on both armatures 3are equal. The same applies to the windings 15.

The electromagnetic device described hereinabove is capable of operationin different manners, and its operation is as follows:

The number of turns of the polarizing windings of each relay as well asthe thickness of the insulation 11, which has the effect of decreasingthe remanence of the magnetic circuit, can be chosen in such a mannerthat when the armatures of a relay are attracted in consequence of theexcitation of its main winding 2, the excitation of the windings 14 or15 is suticient for maintaining the corresponding armature in attractedposition, whereas the excitation of an auxiliary winding 14 or 15 is byitself not suicient to cause the attraction of said armature. Eacharmature of a relay is thus not able to move into its rest positionunless the main winding of the relay and the auxiliary winding actingupon this armature are de-energized.

Each polarizing or auxiliary winding may also be so dimensioned that ifthe field produced by it is directed in opposite direction to themagnetic field of the main winding, the resultant field is too weak forcausing an attraction of an armature. In this case, the two groups ofauxiliary windings can be so arranged that the action of the auxiliarywindings of one group opposes, and the action of the auxiliary windingsof the other group aids the action of the main winding. Thus, bychanging the direction of the exciting current in the main winding ofarelay, one obtains selectively the attraction of one or the other ofthe armatures.

The device shown in Figs. 1 and 3 comprises two relays, each with twoarmatures; however, it should be understood that the device couldcomprise, if desired, a different number of relays and that it couldespecially comprise one relay only.

For certain applications of the device, lit is advantageous to providedifferent exciting characteristics for the windings of a group ofarmatures. It is obvious that the polarizing windings of a group may beconnected in parallel instead of in series.

The device shown in Fig. 2 comprises two relays and is quite similar tothat shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The part 10 corresponding to the two parts10 shown in Figs. 1 and 3 traverses an auxiliary or polarizing winding15a, which has an elongated shape and is common to both armatures 4. Thesame applies to the part (not shown) corresponding to the parts 9v shownin Figs. 1 and 3. A cross section of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2would be exactly the same as that shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the auxiliary windings or polarizing windings14, 15 are arranged yon the movable armatures 3 and 4, the bobbins ofthe auxiliary windings 14, 15 having a neutral aperture of suicient sizefor the armatures 3, 4 to move from the rest position into the attractedposition and vice versa. The armatures 3 and 4 cooperate with contactsprings 16 and 17, respectively, through intermediate insulating pieces18 and 19. In this embodiment yof the invention, the remanence ismaintained below a certain value by the gap which is provided betweenthe larmatures 3 and 4 and the core 1 in the attracted position of thearmatures. It should be noted that in this embodiment of the inventionthe electrical contact could also be obtained between the armature andthe core in the manner indicated in Fig. 3, a gap being provided in thiscase in the magnetic circuit for diminishing the remanence thereof. Therelay could also comprise two cores insulated electrically from eachother so that each armature would close an independent electric circuit.

v Referring now to Fig. 5, Ythe relay comprisestwo armatures 3, 4 whichare `substantially U-shaped. The armatures 3 and 4 'are intended to comeinto electrical contact with the core 1 at the ends thereof which arefor this purpose covered byY a layer consisting of a material being agood/conductor of electricity Vand being non-magnetic for keeping theremanence below a certain limit.

Each armature 3,'4 is kept -inabutment with abutment pieces 20 bya leafspring21 or 22, respectively. Cura rent is fed to each armature by aflexible conductorV 23 or 24, respectively. `Eachend of the armatures 3and 4 traverses an auxiliary orpolarizing winding 14, 14', 15, 15'. Theeliiciency of the'polarizing or auxiliary windings is high, since' theyare located so 'as to en-close the gaps separating the armatures 3 -and4 from the core 1 so that themagnetic dispersion lis weak.

It should be noted that one could'also build electromagnetic devicesaccording to the present invention which include several relays, such asthose shown in Figs. 4 or 5, in which at least one group of movablearmatures including an armature ofeach relay could be polarized by means`of a common polarizing or auxiliary winding analogous to the winding15a shown in Fig. 2. Each armature of these electromagnetic devicescould lalso traverse an exciting winding associated only with thearmature. These electromagnetic devices comprising 4a plurality ofrelays offer the same possibilities of operation as those which havebeen described hereinabove with reference to Figs. l and 3. Obviously,electromagnetic devices according to the invention could comprise, ifdesired, relays with at least two cores whichare insulated from eachother, and a plurality o'ffmova'ble armatures.

It will be understood that each of the elements described hereinabove,or two `or more together, mayalso find a useful application in otherkinds of electromagnetic devices differing from the kinds describedhereinabove.

While l have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in yanelectromagnetic device, I do not intend to be limited to the detailsshown, since various modiiications and structural changes mayybe 'madewithout departing in any way from /the' spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

' l. An electromagnetic relay device comprising a main winding, apluralityof elongated magnetizable members positioned in end-to-endrelationship and forming two substantially closed tiux paths veachhaving 'an air gap, said members including a core common to both of saidflux paths and traversing said main winding, said members furtherincluding two mechanically independent armatures each included inares'pective Vone of said paths and displaceable between an unoperatedposition, in which the associated air gap is Vrelatively large, and anoperated position, in which the associated "air gap isr relativelysmall, restoring means tending to maintain said armatures in saidunoperated positions, said main winding being arranged to produce a tiuxinsuiicient to displace either of said armatures from its unoperated Ytoits operated position, and vbiasing means for generating in each of saidflux paths a magnetomotive torce insutiicient to move therespective'armature to its operated position in a de-energized conditionof said main winding but strong enough to maintain said respectivearmature operated following a displacement thereof in-response tosimultaneous and aiding cnergization of said respective biasing meansand `of said main winding, said biasing means including 'a pair ofauxiliary windings each surrounding one `of said members, other thansaid core, in a `respective -one of -said ux paths, each'of'saidauxiliary windings being arranged to `selectively produce fluxes ofoppositepolarity, lwhereby energiz'ation-of saidV main winding willresult in the operation and holding of any armature associated with aflux path in which the main winding and the biasing winding fluxes arein aiding relationship.

2. A relay device according to claim 1, wherein said main winding isarranged to produce a iiux insulicient to operate either of saidarmatures when energized in bucking relation to the respective auxiliarywinding, said auxiliary windings being arranged to produce mutuallyopposite fluxes in said core whereby energization of said main windingbyfa current of either polarity will result in the operation of arespective one of said armatures only.

3. A relay device according to claim 1, wherein said members include apair `of connecting elements between said core and respective ones ofsaid armatures, said auxiliary windings surrounding said connectingelements.

4. A relay device according to claim l, wherein said auxiliary windingssurround said armatures with sulicient clearance to enable movementthereof between said operated and unoperated positions.

5. A relay device according to claim l, wherein each of said armaturesis provided with a displaceable main portion and an extremity adjacentsaid associated air gap extending substantially transversely to saidmain portion, said auxiliary windings surrounding `said extremities andsaid air gaps.

6. A relay device according to claim l, further including means in each`of said iiux paths for increasing the magnetic reluctance thereof.

7. In van electromagnetic device, in combination, at least two'r'elayseach comprising a main winding, as well as a plurality of elongatedmagnetiza'ble members positioned in end-to-end relationship and formingtwo substantially closed ux paths each having an air gap, said membersincluding a core common to both of said iiux paths and traversing saidmain winding, said members further including two mechanicallyindependent armatures each included in a respective one of said pathsand displaceable between an unoperated position, in which the associatedair gap is relatively large, and an operated position, in which theyassociated air 4gap is relatively small, each of said relays furthercomprising restoring means tending to maintain said armatures in saidunoperated positions each of said main windings .being arranged toproduce `a ux insutiicient to displace either of said associatedarmatures from its unoperated to its operated position; one armature `ofeach of said relays forming part of a first group of armatures, theother armature of each of said relays forming part of a second group ofarmatures; tirst biasing means for generating in the flux pathsassociated with said first group of .armatures simultaneousmagnetomotive forces insutcient to move said first group'of armatures totheir operated positions in a de-energized condition of the respectivemain windings but strong enough yto maintain the armatures of .saidiirst group operated following a displacement thereof in respouse `tosimultaneous and aiding energization of said first biasing means and yofsaid respective main windings; and second biasing means for generatingsimultaneous magnetomotive forces of like character in the flux pathsassociated with said second group yot" armatures; each oi' said biasingmeans including auxiliary winding means surrounding one `"of saidmembersfin each of the respective liux paths, veach of said auxiliarywindings means being arranged to selectively produce iiuxes of `oppositepolarity, whereby energization of said main windings `will result in theoperation and holding :of any armature associated withfa flux path inwhich the main winding `and the biasing means tiuxes are in aidingrelationship.

8. The combination according to claim 7, wherein each of' said auxiliary`winding means comprises a single biasing winding common to all 'of saidrelays.

i.' (References on following page) References Cited inthe le of thispatent UNTED STATES PATENTS Clausen Mar. 3, Turbayne May 16, Beakes Oct.31, Kaisling Feb. 1,

Rochette Aug. 9,

6 Miller June 10, 1930 Milne Oct. 8, 1935 Carew Feb. 20, 1940 FOREIGNPATENTS Sweden Sept. 23, 1901 Germany Jan. 8, 1913

